Fear of Recurring Breast Cancer in Young Patients Might Be Unfounded

Many young women are afraid that their cancer will return and claim their lives.

Talking about breast cancer is never easy. As a breast cancer survivor, I know that the issue can be frightening and upsetting. However, it is crucial to talk about it so that we can offer support and education to women and their families, and so that we can all have access to the latest information and studies about breast cancer.

One such example is a recent study published by the American College of Physicians. Researchers spoke with young women who had breast cancer in one breast and who made the decision to remove their healthy breast as well in order to help decrease their risk of their breast cancer in the future. (The women were 40 years old or younger).

The decision to have a double mastectomy is not uncommon. In fact, the number of double mastectomies performed in this country has increased 150 percent since 1998.

No doubt a number of these surgeries have helped save lives and decreased the number of breast-cancer recurrences, but this doesn’t mean that a double mastectomy is the best or only option for all breast-cancer patients. This might be particularly true when it comes to young women with breast cancer.

For example, in interviewing young women with breast cancer, the Harvard researchers found that 94% of the women who had a double mastectomy said that they did so to decrease their likelihood of a cancer recurrence. Yet, only 18 percent said that they believed a double mastectomy could actually help to protect them from breast cancer in the future, and almost all of the women involved overestimated their likelihood of getting breast cancer in their healthy breast. Furthermore, only one-third of the women said that their doctor’s opinion played an important role in their decision to remove their breast.

In other words, many of the women surveyed made their decision to remove both of their breasts out of fear, and that is completely understandable. However, that fear might also have led them to believe that their risk of recurrence was much higher than it actually was, and that fear might also have led them to ignore their doctor’s advice. Ironically, in the end, most of the women reported that they didn’t feel as though their double mastectomy protected them from a return of breast cancer, so it was ultimately a decision that might have brought them little comfort.

It’s a study I can relate to for many reasons. I know how scary a cancer diagnosis can be and I know how overwhelming the decisions about treatment can be. And, it’s important to listen to your gut and to prioritize your own needs. But, it’s crucial that women don’t rush into making a decision about a double mastectomy and that they don’t make a decision based out of fear and feelings of helplessness. You aren’t helpless and you aren’t alone. You have options and there are many resources out there that can help you. Get educated about your cancer and about your risk of recurrence, especially when it comes to your family history. Angelina Jolie recently made headlines when she decided to go for a double mastectomy but it’s important to remember that everyone’s case is different. Her family history put her at a grave risk of recurrence, but other women might have a much smaller risk.

Most importantly, find a doctor that you can trust. If you don’t feel like your current doctor is listening to your concerns, look for a new physician who can really help to meet your needs. Your doctor shouldn’t have the final say in your treatment, but he should play a role in helping to guide your decision-making and in helping you to understand your risk as well as what potential benefits a double mastectomy might provide.

By talking to your doctor, learning more about your risk level, and researching your options, you can make the decision that is right for you. Talking to your loved ones and other survivors can help clarify your choices; but remember, the decision is ultimately yours and yours alone.

Get the latest health updates

Thanks for signing up!

Oops!

A system error was encountered. Please try again later.

Follow us on your favorite social network!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laura Berman, PhD

Laura Berman, PhD, is a leading sex and relationship educator and therapist, popular TV and radio host, New York Times best-selling author, and assistant clinical professor of ob-gyn and psychiatry at the...read more

SEARCH ALL COLUMNS

This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

Advertising Notice

This Site and third parties who place advertisements on this Site may collect and use information about
your visits to this Site and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of
interest to you. If you would like to obtain more information about these advertising practices and to make
choices about online behavioral advertising, please click here.